The Secret Astrology Decoder Ring Club

Photo by Chris Denbow (cc)

I was teaching a tarot class last night, and since I had a kabbalah enthusiast and another astrologer we veered off into zodiac symbolism after a while (note: I love talking about the astrology/tarot intersection. It just turns my crank). We were sitting around the table talking about significators and archetype goodness, and at one point I said I Identified with the concept of Justice, and other air-element things, because

I have five planets in Libra. In the third house. I’m all about the air and the balance, oh yes.

To my right, the astrologer laughs and says “Wow. Yeah, I can definitely see that about you.”

We all had a good chuckle, and then moved on to other things. But I started thinking about it later, and realized that we use those kinds of flags a LOT. And I don’t mean just completely-obsessive-astrology-buff types either; average people do this with Sun signs too:

Oh, you’re such a Virgo!

or

I’m a Scorpio; people don’t mess with me much.

But a lot of people like you and me (when we’re around people that know what the hell we’re talking about) slide into a astro-jargon as shorthand. I think when you’re talking to the right people this is a good thing.

Note that I’m not talking about using your natal aspects to justify your behavior- that’s a rant for another time- but just as a description, as something to consider. I can tell people

I have Mars in Leo in the 1st so I’m enthusiastic, but I struggle with being a know-it-all sometimes and try to tone that part down.

That’s different from saying

I have Mars in Leo in the 1st so I’m wired to be a bitch. People just have to accept me for who I am.

The first is descriptive, the second is using an aspect to justify, well, being a bitch.

Here’s another example: at the last SFAA meeting, I was standing next to the chapter president in a roomful of chattering, bubbly people. After a bit he started looking at his watch and looking antsy, and I saw we were on a twenty-minute break instead of ten.

I’m Saturn rising,” he said rather sheepishly. “I like to keep everything running on time.”

I was charmed by this, because it was sort of a secret code: this thing gives me this flavor. I felt like I understood how he ticked a little better. This is why I love doing natal readings for people who know nothing about astrology too, because I feel like I’m letting them in on a secret. A new way to describe things they already know about themselves, an explanation for those weird habits.

What’s your secret shorthand? Do you have aspects you describe yourself with sometimes?